Reality, TV, and Reality TV 1.4

I have always thought about a type a situation where a man creates a different type of world for a guy. This was the first I have watched The Truman show and I was amazed that I have never heard of it before and I am a big Jim Carrey fan. I was more amazed that in the movie instead of studying his behavior towards the type of friendly and “safe” environment, they decided to turn it into a TV show. When Truman had the choice of staying in that world or going into the real world, he didn’t hesitate making the decision of going into the real world. The question I ask myself and I’m sure many has asked after watching this movie is; What does he expect to find on the other side of the door?

Many things can happen to Truman once he steps out of that world. For one, he is super popular and possibly the most famous celebrity of all time. With that said, he will first explore how the people really are and he will be surprised. Many people already know him so it will be difficult to live a normal life being a celebrity. He will also have to find a job to support himself. With no “real” high school diploma and education he will probably not find a very good job, which will have him living from check to check. He is also going to face the fact that he has no family whatsoever and will be very lonely despite the fact that everybody knows him. He will see how people really are and the history of us. He will find out about wars, genocides, murders, rapes and realize the evil real people have in will be shocked. I believe that he will soon realize that it isn’t his place to live in and will want to return to Seahaven because he wouldn’t really fit in.

This movie really relates to “The Allegory of the Cave” in many ways. The “prisoner” would be Truman, the cave would be Seahaven and the shadows would be everybody involved with the show that has been lying to Truman all of his life. When Truman suspects that many events in his life are extremely weird such as his father reappearing and his ex girlfriend saying “it is all a set for you” he begins to realize the truth. This can be considered Truman the “prisoner” as “staring in amazement at the shadows that are created for us”. He starts to notice that the world he is living in revolves around him. When he escapes into the ocean and overcomes his fear would be considered “walking out to into light” because he finally set his fear of water aside and demands for the truth.

Truman Burbank expected the truth and got it, but I don’t believe he would like it. He wouldn’t have the choice of going back anymore because the idea of him living a controlled life is now spoiled because he knows now. He could however, ask for some money for being the star of his own show.

My Place In The Cave 1.3

In the allegory of the cave I believe that Plato used the prisoners as an example of us the people. The one prisoner that got to be free would be him or a philosopher because of how they understood that the “shadows” were not their realities. They are explaining that we should not only just believe the stuff we hear on the TV, radio, etc. but we should sit down and ask ourselves why. Most people would hear some of the most absurd stuff and will just believe it because a “reporter” says it, when in reality they do not know the whole truth behind the story he or she is reporting. I think every single person can relate to the allegory and know which stage they are in.

            At the stage of being chained I believe that it is the same as me being a child. Growing up I asked many questions about life as most kids do. We asked those questions to our most influential person in our lives, which most likely are our parents. When we ask those questions and our mother or father gives us their perspective on it, we believe it as if it is fact or truth. Not knowing it is just an opinion we believe it and don’t really care for it anymore. Like the prisoners in the allegory they saw something or heard something and made it into their reality since that’s all they experienced. I believed whatever my mother believed because she was older and my view on life was dependant through her answers. So, in a way the shadows were the prisoner’s “parents”.

At this point of my life I am probably looking at the shadows that are created for us. Now that I am older I am trying to understand why things are the way they are instead of just listening. I am more curious and realizing more about the life around us and how our society works. I know I am in this stage because I do not fully know what are the possibilities that I can turn my life into. I am convinced that I have and will be living my life as I did the past 18 years. I refuse to believe I am ready.

I do plan on going all the way even though it is a scary thought. I’m not sure I would like what I would see just as Socrates and Plato wrote about how the prisoner was surprised. Unlike that prisoner however, I would like to explore outside of the cave instead of going back inside. I’m always ready for something new.

My Heroic Day 1.2

                According to Joseph Campbell, we are all heroes every single day. I fully agree with this statement. I believe that this is true because every day we go through an adventure whether we know it or not. Unless a person just stays home all day laying in their bed, that would make Joseph Campbell statement false. Every single day in our lives is similar to a heroic journey that we go through to accomplish our problems.

                On Saturday I felt like I had encountered a heroic journey by the way my mom gave me the “call to adventure”. She had said I better go do the grocery shopping while she was away at work. I totally denied and refused because I would waste time and I was too lazy to even bother.  She then said that she would give me a reward if I do what she had asked me to. I then realized that this would be similar to my English course of the “Heroic Journey “. Finally, I agreed only because of the reward that my mother had promised.

                Since I just woke up I was too tired to stand up and write the things down that she needed so I tried memorizing them. I then went to the supermarket which was new to me because I had never been there before. I felt out of place and it took me a long time to accomplish buying all the stuff my mom asked me to. When I got home I called my mom to tell her that I got the job done. She repeated all the things that she wanted me to buy and I realized that I forgot to buy the milk! That meant that I would have to go all the way back to the supermarket to buy just a gallon of milk. She felt disappointed in me and hung up.  As I was on my way back I realized that if I wasn’t lazy and actually gotten up and written the things down I wouldn’t have to been doing this job twice.

                After I got back home for the second time I felt accomplished with what I have done. By the time my mom got home she looked and checked if everything was there. I asked about my reward quick so I could leave because I thought it was going to be money. She looked at me, laughed and gave me a hug. She considered that to be a reward for me. I got angry at her and left to the park to cool down. When I got home she said that if I had not gotten the groceries then I wouldn’t have had food to eat the next day. She then gave me 20 dollars for doing her that favor. I felt happy because I got money out of it.

                I felt like a hero because I saved my mom the trouble of getting the groceries. She already works hard so I did the favor she asked me to do. It might not be much of a heroic journey but at the end of that day I was my mom’s hero.

               

Technology 1.1

Ever since I can remember I have used some type of technology for my entertainment. Even with toys I have played with had to have batteries installed so that it can do something like speak or move. Now that I am older I use technology more than ever and I do not think I am going to stop anytime soon. Without technology, I would feel disconnected from the world. I am not ashamed to admit that I am dependant on technology.

When i wake up in the morning, i go straight to my computer to check my email. While at it, i check for new music, sports scores, and just regular news. I then check my phone for any missed calls or texts i have recieved while i was sleeping. Then, i would turn on my tv and put on a movie on my DVD player. Mostly everything i do has to deal with technology.

I think it is a bad thing because if it wasnt for all of that, i would be studying and reading instead of wasting my time. I would get many more things accomplished in all of that time. It is a bad thing because it is an addiction.

If i were to have every type of device i use taken away from me, my life would be completely different. The only possible entertainment would be reading books and playing sports. i would spend my time getting smarter and better in school. It is very scary even thinking about it.

Technology is basically to entertain our boring lives we live today. It gives us sports, social networking, news, gossip among other things. I am dependant to technology because i can not see myself without it.